Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb surenchérir

Introduction to the verb surenchérir

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The English translation of the French verb surenchérir is “to outbid” or “to increase the bid”. It is pronounced “suh-ran-sheh-reer” in its infinitive form.

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Surenchérir comes from the French words “sur” (over, above) and “enchérir” (to bid). It is most often used in everyday French in the context of auctions or bidding on items, but it can also be used more broadly to mean “to exceed” or “to surpass”.

Examples:

“Il a surenchéri de 50 euros pour remporter l’enchère.” (He increased the bid by 50 euros to win the auction.)
“Elle a surenchéri sur son offre initiale pour obtenir le contrat.” (She outbid her initial offer to secure the contract.)
“L’entreprise a surenchéri sur ses concurrents pour obtenir le marché.” (The company outbid its competitors to get the contract.)

Surenchérir – About the French Present Tense

The French present tense, also known as “le présent,” is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or for actions that are habitual, general truths, or that will occur in the near future. It’s the most basic and common tense in French.

To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see our article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.

Common Everyday Usage Patterns For Le Present

1. Describing Actions in the Present: The present tense is used to describe actions happening right now or at the moment of speaking. For example: “Je parle avec mon ami” (I am talking to my friend).

2. Expressing Habits and Routines: The present tense is used to talk about habitual actions or routines. For example: “Je travaille tous les jours” (I work every day).

3. Stating General Truths: The present tense is used to express general truths or facts. For example: “La Terre tourne autour du soleil” (The Earth orbits around the sun).

4. Talking about Near Future: The present tense can be used to express future actions that are very imminent or part of a planned schedule. For example: “Je pars demain matin” (I am leaving tomorrow morning).

Interactions with Other Tenses

– Present vs. Future Tense: In some cases, the French present tense can be used to express the future when the context makes it clear that the action is imminent. However, for actions further in the future or less certain, the future tense is typically used.

– Present vs. Past Tenses: To describe actions that occurred in the past, you would use the past tenses like the passé composé (compound past) or the imparfait (imperfect). The choice between these past tenses depends on the specific aspect and circumstances of the past action.

– Present vs. Conditional Tense: The conditional tense is used to express actions that are dependent on a condition. If a condition is met, the action may happen. The present tense is used for actions in the present, while the conditional is used for hypothetical or future actions based on conditions.

– Present vs. Imperative: The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. The present tense is used for general statements, and the imperative is used for direct orders or requests.

Understanding the French present tense and its interactions with other tenses is crucial for effective communication in French. Without it, you cannot become proficient!

Table of the Present Tense Conjugation of surenchérir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	je surenchér is	Je surenchér is sur ce produit.	I am outbidding on this product.
tu	tu surenchér is	Tu surenchér is sur cette maison.	You are bidding on this house.
il	il surenchér it	Il surenchér it pour gagner la partie.	He is overbidding to win the game.
elle	elle surenchér it	Elle surenchér it sur le prix.	She is raising the price.
on	on surenchér it	On surenchér it sur ce projet.	We are bidding on this project.
nous	nous surenchér issons	Nous surenchér issons pour obtenir le contrat.	We are bidding to get the contract.
vous	vous surenchér issez	Vous surenchér issez pour en avoir plus.	You are bidding to get more.
ils	ils surenchér issent	Ils surenchér issent pour remporter l’enchère.	They are overbidding to win the auction.
elles	elles surenchér issent	Elles surenchér issent pour obtenir la maison.	They are bidding to get the house.